Travelina trunk



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

C; D. HESS.

TRAVBLING TRUNK.

No. 367,979. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.v

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C D. HES S. TRAVELING TRUNK.

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Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

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C. D. HESS.

. TRAVELING TRUNK. No. 367,979.l Patented Aug. 9, 18487.

@Wi-tmc ooe :v Snom/Lto z l -UNITED e STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CLARENCE n. nnss, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNoR To CLARENCE cRovER nESS, oE SAME PLACE.

TRAVELlNG-TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,979, dated August 9, 1887.

f Application filed February 4, 1887. Serial No. 226,531. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. HEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Traveling-Trunks, of which the following is a` specification.

My invention relates to traveling-trunks, and has for its object the provision of means :o -whereby a traveler shall have easy access to any special article within a trunk without dis turbing any other of the contentsfor detaching any portion of the trunk.

. My invention further consists in the provisx 5 ion of means whereby the body ofan ordinaryY traveling-trunk is .convertible into a bureau and toilet dressing-case. Y My invention further consists in a novel and peculiar construction of the trunk cover,

2o whereby it is adapted foruse' as an ofice-desk or escritoire.'

In furtherance of my objectY myfinvention contemplates dividing both the trunk-body and its cover into compartments, each division provided with locking and closing devices,

whereby'said compartments can be independ-V ently closed and locked, and in combinations of various of the devices, all as herein more particularly described, illustrated in the drawi 3o ings, and speciicallypointed out in the claims. Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which like letters of reference point 'out similar parts on each figure, Figurelis a perspective View of a closed trunk embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a like View showing the trunk standing on end. Fig. 3 represents the trunk as shown in Fig. 2 thrown open, all. the compartmentsv being securely closed,

' the hinged end of the trunk thrown up, dis- 4o closing the hinged lid of the toilet-division.' Fig. 4 is a View of the trunk in like position, showing the toilet-case lid lifted up, the escri toire open, and the locking-bar removed from bureau-drawers, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line x x, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detached view showingmeans of interlocking and releasing the cover of the pigeon holes and the stationery drawer. Fig. 7 is a detached view of the locking-bar. 5o Fig. S is a detail View Showing construction of the-pigeou-holes and their spring-pressed the full depth and widthof the trunk-body,

boards. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View ofthe toilet compartments with divisional partitions.

In the drawings, A is the trunk-body; A', its cover; a, the lock; aa, clasps or bolts; a2, handles common to such articles.

B is the hinged end of the trunk, provided with-lianges b b, for a purpose presently set forth, the opposite end, B, being permanently closed.

C is the toilet-compartment, its two side walls being formed of part of the front and rearof the trunk-body, its back being part of the trunk-bottom. (See dotted lines, Fig. Il.) Its front is a rigid strip, c, permanently at- 65 tached to the side walls. The compartment C is partitioned off into divisions for reception ofsoap, cosmetics, cologne, perfume-bottles, manicure articles, shaving utensils, washbowl, combs, brushes, and all appurtenances l applicable to toilet dressing-cases. It has a hinged lid, C, preferably provided with padded lining c to `protect the fragile articles within its separate divisions. At about the middle yof said padded lining and recessed therein is a looking-glass, c2. Thus, when the trunk is in the position shown in Fig. 3, by simply lifting the lid C a complete toiletcase is presented with attached looking-glass, and without the removal of any tray or detaching 'any portion of the trunk.

Thecover C may be upheld ata desired inclination by any Suitable device. I show linked cords 6 6 upon the cover B, adapted to engage buttons or hooks 7 7 upon the cover C', 85 that will serve such purpose; but do not wish to be understoodas limiting myself to such formof fastening device.

Below the compartment C are a series of bureau-drawers. I show three in the drawings; but there may be more or less without departing from the scope of my invention. The sev eral drawers are separated from eachother by means of a rigidly-attached shelf, d, that extends forming midway supportingbraces therefor. To give additional supporting strength to the trunk, I face each of these shelves with a rod or bar, d', preferably of steel, which bars are firmly secured by rivets, bolts, or the like to the trunk-body. These shelves and rods'perform a double function. They provide a way or roo Fis

track for guiding the drawers as they are withdrawn and returned, and also serve the purpose of secu rel y braci ng the tru nk-bod y, whereby all risk of expansion or collapse is avoided. I consider this an important feature of my invention, adding great structural strength to the trunk, a quality much required in such articles, for I will observe that a trunk constructed as herein set forth can be made of very large dimensions without risk of its fracture or the rupture of its contents, even when roughly handled, by reason of the strong support secured by the shelves d and rods d. I prefer that one or more of these drawers shall be partitioned off.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I show a main undivided clothes-drawer, D, a partitioned drawer, D, adapted to contain under-clothing, hat-box, hosiery, Ste., and a drawer, D2, containing divisions for shirts, collars, cu's, scarfs, gloves, Ste. The drawers D D D are of the usual form, having bottom, sides, front, and rear, such members being indicated by numerals 1 2 3 4, the front I being provided with handles 5, for an obvious purpose.

It will be readily understood that when the trunk is stood on end and opened, as shown in Fig. 4, and the locking-bar is removed said drawers D D' D can be withdrawn outwardly. (See dotted lines.)

E is a locking-bar having a hooked upper end, c, its opposite end, c', adapted to tit snugly within a socket, c?, located at the center near the edge ofthe end B of the trunk. Said bar is slotted at c3 for reception of staple e, (shown inthe drawings extending outwardly from stri p 0,) a small padlock, as c, holding the bar in position. esides keeping the drawers in position within the body of the trunk, the bar at the same time, by means of its hooked end c, holds down the lid C of the dressing-case, as said hooked end is made long enough to pass over the upper edge of the strip c, and from thence extends a required distance over and upon the front upper surface of the lid C. Vhen it is desired to leave said lid open and nevertheless have the drawers locked,the same can be done by adjusting the bar E, as before described, without passing the hooked end over the lid G.

The hinged cover B, which,when the trunk is entirely elosed,for1ns one of its ends, has upon its side edges outer projecting metal flanges, b, which are returned downwardly a short distance away from the edges proper, S, of said trunk end, thus leaving an intermediate annular space, b', extending the full length of the side edges of said trunk end B. The front and back proper of the trunk-body extend a little distance beyond the upper surface of the toilet-compartment, uprising beyond its cover, thus forming projections, as 9, which projections, when the end B'is closed down, respectively fall within the annular recesses b', making a tight joint and preventing displacement of these connected parts. The

trunk-cover A is also provided with extending metal flanges 10, '11, and 12. The former overlaps the front edge, 13, of the trunk. The flange 11 in like manner overlaps the edge of the end B', while the opposite ilange,12,passcs outwardly over the edge of the hinged portion B and firmly keeps it from lateral displacement. rIhe trunk-cover is mainly appropriated and fitted up as an escritoire. The lower portion is partitioned off to form a bin, 14, as a clothes and shoe department.

The rear of the cover is divided off its full length as a receptacle, 15, for umbrellas and canes. To prevent such articles from rattling or moving about during transit, one or more straps' of elastic webbing, 16, are inserted across said receptacle, and it will be readily understood that if one or more of such articles are inserted behind said elastic straps they will be held stationary by means of the resiliency of the webbing.

rIhe cover A hasintcriorly a compartment, F, which is subpartitioned into divisions ff, for holding books, &e. Above these is an extensible drawer, F, for containing paper, envelopes, and the like, which drawer, when pulled ont, forms a rest for the cover G,whieh, when folded up in such position, comprises an inclined writing-table. Above the drawer F the remainder of the interior of the trunkcover is subdivided into pigeon-holes 17, one of which at about the center of the lowermost part is appropriated for an inkstand, said subdivision being provided with pen and pencil rack 1S.

The cover G is hinged above the stationerydrawer F, extending therefrom downwardly over said drawer and over the bin 141 to a strip, 19, and is provided with a lock, 20, whereby it is secured to said strip. It is further provided with buttons or clasps 21, as a further protection to keep it engaged with said strip and to prevent warping. As before described, when the cover G is lifted up and the drawer Fis pulled outwardly, said cover will rest upon the drawer and form an inclined writing-table.

The pigeon-holes 17 are also adapted to be closed up by means of a cover, Il, hinged to the trunk-cover at 21. rIhe cover II has at its lower end a detent-plate, 23, which, when said cover is folded down over the face of the pigeon-holes, engages with a spring-pressed latch, 22. Said latch is operated by the slid-` ing drawer F', and, as plainly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the latch 22 and dctent 23 are automatieall y engaged and released as the drawer is slid to and fro within its casing. The several pigeon-holes 17 are adapted and intended to hold letters and files of papers in a ilat position. in larger or smaller quantities. For the purpose of keeping such fllesin position and to prevent them from moving about during transit said pigeon-holes are provided with spring-pressed slabs f', which are normally kept down toward the bottom of the several pigeon-holes. The papers are slid ICO IIO

under said slabs, and are thereby clipped.;

(See detail, Fig. 8.) Y

I will observe that when in describing compartments and divisions of the device I e1n ploy the words top and bottom my meaning is to refer to thegposition of the trunk and its cover standing on end, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A convertible trunk the body and hinged cover of which are subdividedsinto compartments and having one of its ends, B, hinged to the rear wall of the frame to form a swinging lid when the trunk is stood up on its opposite end, B', as and for the purpose intended, substantially as described.

2. A compartment-trunk the body of which is provided with sliding drawers and a toiletsection, said section having a hinged lid, in combination with vlockingbar E, one endof which is adapted to fall within a socket, e2,vof the permanently-attached end B', the opposite end of said bar being `turned'over to form a hook, e, as and for the purpose intended, substantially'as described.

3. A convertibletrunk having rigid shelves extendingiuteriorly the full width and breadth of its frame, in combination with metal rods facing said shelves, the ends of which rods pass through the front and rear walls of the trunk-frame and are securely bolted thereto, whereby the trunk is securely braced laterally and transversely and is prevented from eX- pausiou and collapse, substantially as described.

`up over said drawer, and'thereby form a writing-table having a continuous unbroken obliquelyinclined surface, as and for the purl pose intended, substantially as described.

5. In a compartment-trunk, the cover A', partitioned off at its rear end to form an umbrella-ease, 15, said division provided with strips of webbing 16, the remainder of said cover being divided into clothesbin 14, bookdivisions Ff, drawer F', and pigeon-holes 17,

said pigeon-holes andpartitions adapted to be closed by hinged covers H and G, substann tially as described.

6. A convertible trunk the cover of which is provided with a series of pigeon-hole`s, said pigeon-holes having a hinged cover adjusted to fold over and close their free open ends, said pigeoirhole cover supplied at its lower .end with a detent-plate, in combination with a coincident latch operated by a drawer ar ranged to slide to a-nd fro within'casing below said pigeonholes, whereby said pigeon- 'hole cover and latch will be automatically intermeshed and released, as and forthc purpose intended, substantially as described.

CLARENCE D. I-IESS. Witnesses:

SAMUEL H. JAeoBsoN,

EDWARD J. STELLWAGEN. 

